Lock blocking device for vending machine closures

ABSTRACT

A gravity operated, lock blocking device for one door of a pair which is disabled upon the closing of the second door.

0 United States Patent 91 [111 3,734,346 Yingst [451 May 22, 1973 [54] LOCK BLOCKING DEVICE FOR [56] References Cited L E VENDING MACHINE C OSUR S UNITED STATES PATENTS [75] Inventor: Thomas 0. Yingst, Conway, Ark.

1,245,022 10/1917 Piggot ..312/295 [73] Assignee: Polyvend, Inc., Conway, Ark. [22] Filed; 5 1971 Primary ExaminerStan1ey 1-1. Tollberg Attorney-Raymond N. Matson 211 App]. No.: 174,794

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl ..221/101, 312/295 A gravity operated k b k device for one door [51] Int. C1. ..A47f1/00 of a pail. which is disabled upon the closing of the [58] Field of Search ..l94/54, DIG. 20; Second door.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented May 22 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR THOMAS O. YINGST Patented May 22, 1973 2 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR THOMAS O. YINGST In 2 H 5 O 5 H I U AGENT LOCK BLOCKING DEVICE FOR VENDING MACHINE CLOSURES This invention is an improvement on the vending machine disclosed by William A. Patrick in copending application for Letters Patent, Ser. No. 47,257, filed June 19, 1970, entitled Vending Machine.

The vending machine disclosed therein has a plurality of replaceable, motor driven, merchandise vending modules arranged in vertical and horizontal rows behind a product loading door having a glass viewing panel so that a customer can survey the merchandise stored therein and make his selection thereof. Upon the deposit of a coin and the operation of the selector button associated with his choice, the merchandise is delivered into a dispensing bin. The associated selector switches, relays, coin change mechanism, etc., contained in the cabinet are concealed from the public by a second or servicing door which is opened when access is desired.

When the vending machine is serviced, the service man opens the glass paneled, product loading door to refill the merchandise carrying modules, and may then open the service door at the side for access to the coin equipment and the operating electrical components. The problem which the present invention solves, arises in the fact that the serviceman does not always close the door concealing the coin equipment and operating components before locking the outer product loading door. Unfortunately, the exposed coin mechanism, etc., leads to pilfering attempts, is unsightly, and subjects the electrical components to dust, etc.

Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to provide a lock blocking device which requires that the servicing door of a vending machine be closed before the product loading door can be locked.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a pendulum which blocks the locking, boltreceiving aperture of a closure until it is moved away from the aperture by a second closure in moving to closed position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vending machine embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view thereof illustrating the relationship of the closed doors to the vending machine and to each other;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view to an enlarged scale of the lock bolt blocking pendulum in non-blocking position, taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a similar view thereof in bolt blocking position; and

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view thereof taken on the line 55 of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings, numeral designates the coin operated vending and dispensing machine as a whole which comprises a metal or one-piece molded fiberglass outer cabinet 21 suitably supported on legs and/or rollers (not shown). The cabinet 21 is provided with a front door 22 having a glass merchandise viewing panel 23 and being hinged as at 24 and provided with a lock 25. The cabinet includes a rear door 26 to provide access to the rear face of the module support panel 34 and the front of the cabinet includes a coin receiving slot 27, a coin return slot 30, a plurality of merchandise selector buttons 31 (one for each vending module), and a merchandise dispensing bin 32 to which access is had by a pivoted door 33.

Each vending module 35 holds a series of merchandise packages (not shown) which have supporting tabs and may contain food such as potato chips, peanuts, etc., or any desired item. The coin slot 27 leads to a conventional slug rejector or other coin crediting mechanism, and thence to a coin box 36 contained in the space 37 housing also the electrical components (not shown) and defined by a sliding service door 38 and the right side of the cabinet 21. Each of the vending modules 35 has its own driving motor 40 and extends forwardly through the support panel 34 to a point over the bin 32 and adjacent the glass viewing panel 23 in the front or product loading door 22.

As seen in FIGS. 3-5, the lock 25 of the door 22 has a bolt 42 which is projected into the bolt-receiving aperture 44 in a panel 45 of the right side of the cabinet 21 by means of a conventional key. In order to ensure that the sliding door 38 is closedbefore the pivoted door 22 can be locked, a member in the form of a pendulum 46 is pivoted to the panel 45 as at 47. The pendulum is so shaped as to block the bolt aperture 44 when the door 38 is open as shown in FIG. 4. The bottom and free end of the pendulum is constrained in its movement by a vertically disposed flange 49 fixed to the panel 45 which prevents the bending outwardly of the pendulum by the bolt. The upper portion of the pendulum is provided with an outwardly projecting, horizontal flange 50 which is adapted to be engaged by an outwardly projecting, vertically disposed flange 52 fixed to the sliding service door 38.

It will now be readily apparent that when the slidable service door 38 is open, the flange 52 is moved away from the pendulum 46 and its flange 50 permitting the pendulum to swing to the bolt blocking position of FIG. 4 and the service man is unable to lock the product loading door 22. He therefore must move the sliding door to the left to the position of FIGS. 3 and 5 so that the flange 52 of the sliding door engages the pendulum flange 50 to move the pendulum against the casing 21 and away from the bolt receiving aperture 44 so that the bolt 42 may be received therein. Thus, the present invention comprises a very effective means for insuring the closing of the servicing door 38.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, an enclosure including a support; a first closure mounted on said support and movable from an open to a closed and lockable position; means for locking said first closure; a second closure mounted on said support and movable from an open position to a closed position; and means mounted on said support and being operable to prevent locking movement of said locking means of said first closure until said second closure is in closed position.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said means comprises a pendulum movable by gravity to lock blocking position.

3. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said means comprises a pendulum movable to non-lock blocking position by said second closure.

4. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein one of said closures is pivotable and the other of said closures is slidable.

5. A vending machine comprising, in combination, a cabinet having a product storing compartment and a compartment for operating components; a servicing door separating said compartments and being movable from an open position to a closed position; a product loading door for said product storing compartment and being movable to closed and lockable position; means for locking said product loading door; and means said doors is pivotable and the other is slidable. 

1. In combination, an enclosure including a support; a first closure mounted on said support and movable from an open to a closed and lockable position; means for locking said first closure; a second closure mounted on said support and movable from an open position to a closed position; and means mounted on said support and being operable to prevent locking movement of said locking means of said first closure until said second closure is in closed position.
 2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said means comprises a pendulum movable by gravity to lock blocking position.
 3. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said means comprises a pendulum movable to non-lock blocking position by said second closure.
 4. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein one of said closures is pivotable and the other of said closures is slidable.
 5. A vending machine comprising, in combination, a cabinet having a product storing compartment and a compartment for operating components; a servicing door separating said compartments and being movable from an open position to a closed position; a product loading door for said product storing compartment and being movable to closed and lockable position; means for locking said product loading door; and means mounted on said cabinet and being operable to prevent locking movement of said locking means of said product loading door until said servicing door is in closed poSition.
 6. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said means comprises a pendulum movable by gravity to lock blocking position.
 7. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said means comprises a pendulum movable to non-lock blocking position by said servicing door.
 8. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein one of said doors is pivotable and the other is slidable. 